ISSN NO: 2410-3861
ISSUED ON: 2015

The Conservation of clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa (Griffith, 1821) in Bhutan

Ugyen Penjor

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Checklist of Butterflies of Bhutan

Irungbam Jatishwor Singh and Meenakshi Singh Chib

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Experimental effects of reduced flow velocity on water quality and macroinvertebrate communities: implications for hydropower development in Bhutan

Darren Ryder, Karl Vernes, Lobzang Dorji, Stevie Armstrong, Cornelia Brem, Rebecca Di Donato, Lindsey Frost and Ian Simpson

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Evaluation of short duration rice (Oryza sativa) varieties as a strategy to cope with climate change

Ngawang Chhogyell, Neelam Pradhan, Mahesh Ghimiray and Yadunath Bajgai

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Sustainable Water Source Management in Tshogonpa and Khaimanma villages, Lumang Gewog, Trashigang, Bhutan

Tsheten Dorji

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Plant Species Richness, Structure and Life Form Respond to an Altitudinal Gradient in Central Bhutan, Eastern Himalayas.

Hilary Pearl, Nicole Bonney, Joshua Whitehead, Tim Rhodes, Ian H. Simpson, Rinchen Singye and C.L. Gross

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Endangered Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus – Pearson 1839) in the Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan

Tshering Nidup

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Diversity of Waterbirds Along Bindu River of Tashi Chhoeling (Samtse), Bhutan

Passang

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Ecology, Biodiversity and Approaches for Management of Specialthang Grassland in Royal Manas National Park

Singye Wangmo, Sithup Lhendup, Dorji Wangchuk, Tshering Nidup, Tshering Dorji and Tenzin Wangchuk

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Drinking Water Sources in Bumthang Dzongkhag: Preliminary Assessment and Community Perceptions

Samten Wangchuk, Kinga Norbu and Lungten Norbu

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The Conservation of clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa (Griffith, 1821) in Bhutan

Classified as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Endangered Species Commission (IUCN 2006, Srivastav and Nigam 2009), the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa is one of the world’s most enigmatic wild cats (Austin et al., 2007) and faces many conservation challenges (Nowell and Jackson 1996). Compared to other species of the Panthera lineage, the clouded leopard has attracted little scientific and conservation attention (Wilting et al., 2007). The cat’s secretive arboreal behavior and forest habitat (Nowell and Jackson 1996) has eluded study, thus very little is known about its conservation and status in the wild (Gordon et al., 2007; Povey et al., 2009; Wilting et al., 2007). Most information about the clouded leopard in south Asia comes from anecdotal sources (Grassman et al., 2005; Rabinowitz et al., 1987; Selous and Banks 1935), descriptive accounts (Selous and Banks 1935), sighting reports (Davies 1990; Mohamed et al., 2009) and captive individuals (Nowell and Jackson 1996). Similarly, their taxonomy and phylogenetic status remain obscure (Wilting et al., 2007).

Bhutan has the mammalian composition of two faunal regions, the Palearctic and the IndoMalayan ranging from sub-tropical to temperatealpine forest ecosystems (Sangay and Vernes 2008). Bhutan has been recognized as part of a biologically diverse conservation priority network (Tempa et al., 2013), yet few efforts have been made to document the country’s biodiversity in a scientific manner, let alone study the clouded leopard. Astoundingly, 11 felid species are found in Bhutan (Wangchuk et al., 2004), which represents the richness of predator faunal diversity. Bhutanese efforts have detected common and large mammals, but missed rare and elusive felids like the clouded leopard. A camera trap study in Royal Manas National Park revealed the diversity of the felid species and provided insights as well as opportunities to further study of these species (Tempa et al., 2013).

Specific natural history information vital for conservation of wild felids include habitat requirements, spatial-use patterns, social organization, reproduction, mortality, activity, and food habits (Lekagul and McNeeley 1977; Nowell and Jackson 1996). This information can form specific criteria for effective management and to begin population viability analyses of these poorly known carnivores (Austin et al., 2007; Grassman et al., 2005).

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Checklist of Butterflies of Bhutan

The review of literature reveals that a complete checklist on the butterfly fauna of Bhutan has never been published. A few studies have been conducted on butterflies of Bhutan, however, a comprehensive list on butterfly fauna is currently not available. The present study aims to provide precise data on the known butterfly fauna of Bhutan. This document presents a checklist based on the review of available literature on the butterflies of Bhutan. It comprises 670 species; Papilionidae (55 species), Pieridae (51 species), Lycaenidae (160 species), Nymphalidae (265 species), and Hesperiidae (139 species). Of these, 182 species (Papilionidae (16 species), Pieridae (10 species), Lycaenidae (38 species), Nymphalidae (93 species) and Hesperiidae (25 species) are listed as rare or very rare in Indian literature, which does not mean they are rare in Bhutan. 120 species are protected under different schedules of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 2002. None of the butterfly species reported from Bhutan are included in the protected schedules of Forest and Nature Conservation Rules, 2006 of Bhutan except Bhutanitis ludlowi Gabriel, 1942 (Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory). Inventory research activities of butterfly fauna through participation of specialists, amateur lepidopterists and relevant authorities in all parts of Bhutan is necessary and advisable.

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Experimental effects of reduced flow velocity on water quality and macroinvertebrate communities: implications for hydropower development in Bhutan

Key to Bhutan’s economic development strategy is the expansion of the country’s hydropower projects, which requires the construction of a number of large dams. As dams affect the natural hydrological regime of rivers, the objective of this study was to assess these impacts on water quality and macroinvertebrate communities. Baseline physical and chemical properties of rivers in central Bhutan were gathered to provide spatial context for hydrological change associated with hydropower development. Physico-chemical measures from central Bhutan rivers suggested that aquatic macroinvertebrate communities are not currently impacted1 by poor water quality. An in situ experiment using flow diversion barriers in Chamkharchu at Jakar (Bumthang) was conducted to assess the short-term impacts of reduced water velocity on benthic macroinvertebrate communities to simulate the impacts of flow velocity changes associated with reaches downstream of hydropower facilities. We found benthic macroinvertebrate taxa

abundance, richness and diversity were not significantly different between high and low flow velocity treatments, but community composition was significantly different between before and after the construction of flow diversion barriers, with reduced abundance of rheophilic (flow-dependent) taxa in treatments with reduced velocity. Current impacts of hydropower facilities are focused on the construction phase. This study has highlighted that the operation of hydropower facilities can also impact the ecological condition of rivers, and that these long-term impacts must be included in the decision making processes for hydropower development. Further investigation is warranted to determine how wide-ranging these impacts will be throughout Bhutan.

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Evaluation of short duration rice (Oryza sativa) varieties as a strategy to cope with climate change

Ten elite short duration rice varieties were introduced from Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Bangladesh and evaluated at the Renewable Natural Resources Research and Development Centre – Bhur, in Sarpang in 2014. The varieties were tested both as the spring and main season crops to assess their potential for rice double cropping and crop intensification program of theDepartment of Agriculture. Rice varieties with short maturity duration are needed to adapt to the changing climate and altered growing conditions. The result from the spring crop showed that almost all the introduced varieties were not better than the local check (IR20913) in terms of earliness. Their days to flowering (DTF) ranged from 110 days (d) to 131 days except for one variety which had 103 days. IR 20913 flowered in 110 day and most of the varieties took about 2 weeks or longer to flower. However, the same varieties tested in the main season flowered between 81 d to 99 d which is comparable to the local check (Bhur Kambja 1) with 90 d. As the spring crop, these varieties were not better than the local checks in terms of their earliness. But the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) varieties like BRRI dhan26, 28, 56 and 58 were identified to be suitable for other agronomic traits such as crop stand, plant height and yield. These varieties produced grain yield of over 2 t/ha. Thus, four of the elite varieties have been selected and will be further evaluated prior to their release as climate resilient varieties.

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Sustainable Water Source Management in Tshogonpa and Khaimanma villages, Lumang Gewog, Trashigang, Bhutan

This paper describes about the study initiated on ‘water source management’ in the year 2008 to 2009 with the fund support from United Nations Environment Programme and technical guidance from Eco-Peace Leadership Center based in Kangwon National University, Republic of South Korea. The year-long study was initiated to ensure and instil a sense of awareness and self-responsibility in the mindsets of the communities of Tshogonpa and Khaimanma villages in regards to improving the state of environment through a planned water source management system. The study also tries to stress the importance of relationship between better livelihood and healthy environment and at the same time target at community preparedness and community responsibility. The study has reached and benefited more than 300 hundred low-income community of Tshogonpa and Khaimanma villages and school children and teachers in regards to environmental education, ideas and techniques of forest conservation, water source management, soil erosion and landslides. The paper begins by introducing the environmental situation of the country as a whole in connection to the study area. It then highlights the background of study and it focuses on finding the status of vegetation coverage and water sources, causes of landslides and their negative impacts. Then it describes the objectives and the methodology applied in carrying out the activities. It also emphasized on the major outcomes or result from the study, and recommendations as way-forward for undertaking future conservation programs

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Plant Species Richness, Structure and Life Form Respond to an Altitudinal Gradient in Central Bhutan, Eastern Himalayas.

Understanding how species richness changes with altitude is important for conservation management. In Central Bhutan, an altitudinal vegetation transect from 2985 m to 3790 m along an eastern spur on Kiki Phu, in Bumthang, was surveyed for plant species richness in autumn (November) 2014. Species richness, life form diversity, canopy cover and ground cover were measured every 100 m of altitude using two 25 m x 25 m quadrats (north and south). For the dominant tree species, height and diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured and compared against altitude. In total 114 species of vascular plant species were found, with a significant decrease in species richness occurring as altitude increased, from 42 species to 124 species, with altitude 3157 m showing a slight increase against this trend. Life form diversity varied significantly with altitude with forbs in particular decreasing in species richness. Maximum canopy cover, tree height and DBH of dominant species occurred at the mid elevations of 3255 m – 3461 m, and these were significantly different on the southern side of the ridge, where canopies were open and trees shorter. Mid altitude patterns may be related to moisture regimes and grazing with dampening effects on canopy cover, tree height and life forms particularly on the southern sides of the ridge. A Principal Coordinates Analysis showed species composition clustered with altitude. These results establish baseline floristic data for autumn which may be important for monitoring change over time and space to assess impacts of anthropogenic pressure and climate change.

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Endangered Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus – Pearson 1839) in the Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan

The endangered hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus – Pearson 1839) has only been sighted in a few isolated pockets in the tropical grassland ecosystems of southern Asia. Knowledge of the current status and distribution of the species is limited. Historical samples, anecdotal sources, and sign surveys have suggested that the hispid hare could occur along the southern foothills of Bhutan. This is the first study to systematically assess its presence in the region. To optimize the detection of this elusive animal, camera traps were set up in the Royal Manas National Park (RMNP), Bhutan, spread over three different grassland areas. To maximize the probability of capturing images of the hispid hare, camera traps were randomly placed in batches in three different grassland areas chosen based on the preliminary sign survey. Over the survey period from March through May of 2015, 11 images of hispid hare were captured from a single camera trap station, confirming the presence of this poorly known species in RMNP. Furthermore, the confirmed presence of this endangered species suggests that sustainable management of this grassland habitat could be important for its future survival since the condition of grasslands has been waned over the years due to uncontrolled burning of grasslands, invasion of grassland by woody plants, and weed species.

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Diversity of Waterbirds Along Bindu River of Tashi Chhoeling (Samtse), Bhutan

This study was conducted along the Bindu River under Tashi Chhoeling (Samtse) District in southwestern Bhutan from 1 January 2016 to 29 February 2016, with an objective to find document species composition, diversity, richness, evenness and relative abundance of waterbirds inhabiting along the Bindu River. Point count method was used to observe, identify, and record the birds. A total of 296 individual waterbirds belonging to 6 families and 12 species were recorded along the Bindu River during the study period. Bird species within the Muscicapidae family were the highest number of species sighted and also the highest number of individual waterbirds sighted. Plumbeous water redstart was the most abundant waterbird found along the Bindu River with a relative abundance of 34.80% and Gray wagtail is the least abundant with a relative abundance of 1.01%. Shannon’s diversity index, Margalef’s richness index, and Pielou’s evenness index of waterbirds for the Bindu River was 1.94, 1.93, and 0.78 respectively.

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Ecology, Biodiversity and Approaches for Management of Specialthang Grassland in Royal Manas National Park

Grasslands represent an important habitat in the Royal Manas National Park, occupying 1191.18 hectares of its geographical area. The condition of most of the grasslands has degraded over the years due to the invasion of woody perennials. A biodiversity assessment of Specialthang grassland, covering 240 acres under Manas Range, was conducted to assess the status of the grasslands and to provide insights for developing scientific grassland management regimes. The quadrat sampling method, point count, and modified pollard walk methods were used for vegetation, avifauna, and butterfly surveys respectively. Encounter rate from line transects and photographic capture rate index from camera traps were used for mammal survey.

A total of 71 plant species, 14 butterfly species, 61 bird species, and 13 mammal species were recorded from the study area.

The study showed a high dominance of Chromolaena odoratum (24084.3 per hectare) followed by Clerodendrum viscosum (1270), Leea asiatica (1232.8), and Urena lobata (1232.3). Species such as cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica), lemongrass (Cymbopogon pendulus), elephant grass (Saccharum narenga), Penicum auritum and Arundinella bengalensis had high important value index (IVI).

The mean encounter rate and photographic capture rate for large and medium mammals Species such as cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica), lemongrass (Cymbopogon pendulus), elephant grass (Saccharum narenga), Penicum auritum and Arundinella bengalensis had high important value index (IVI).

The mean encounter rate and photographic capture rate for large and medium mammals such as Elephant (Elephus maximus), Sambar (Rusa unicolor), Wild Pig (Sus scrofa), and Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak) were high. Conversely, small mammal encounter rate was recorded significantly low. Long-term assessment of biodiversity of grasslands shall be pivotal in planning, development, and adaptive management of grasslands. We recommend the use of patch mosaic burning technique, based on sound knowledge of grassland ecology, for the protection and restoration of grasslands in the Royal Manas National Park.

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Drinking Water Sources in Bumthang Dzongkhag: Preliminary Assessment and Community Perceptions

This assessment documents the location and status of community drinking water sources in Bumthang Dzongkhag (district). There is a need for such baseline information to assess future trends of drinking water sources in the Dzongkhag in relation to factors associated for its production such as forest degradation in the watersheds and climate change. A total of 220 water sources, supporting 2379 households were identified through field visits and community consultations. The Study indicated that 61% of water sources are located in blue pine forest, 30% in mixed conifer forest, 7% in land without woody vegetation, and 2% in fir forest. One hundred and ninety households have their water sources in degraded forest. The reasons for forest degradation within 100m of the water sources was ascribed by communities mainly to tree harvesting (42%), non-wood forest product collection (43%), and open grazing (15%).

However, it was not clear whether forest degradation had resulted in a reduction in water quality.

The communities in the areas assessed reported inadequate quantity of drinking water, especially from November to January, associated with drying of water sources.

The research attempts to identify the root causes of the degradation of water sources through social methods, which will require conformity through ecological research. The extension of the study to other dzongkhags, in order to enhance planning of drinking water safety and security while maintaining the health of the watersheds, is discussed. The information generated from this Study will contribute to the formulation of relevant watershed management interventions and inform policymakers in decisions related to water resource planning and management.

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